ISIS has claimed responsibility for a growing number of attacks across Syria in recent weeks, demonstrating the continued threat posed by militant cells despite the group’s territorial defeat years ago. Among the most high-profile incidents was the assassination of Sheikh Farhan Hassan al-Mansour, a prominent Shiite cleric and preacher at the Sayyida Zeinab shrine south of Damascus.
ISIS said in its weekly Naba publication that its fighters carried out a “qualitative bombing operation” targeting Mansour’s vehicle after Friday prayers in the heavily secured Sayyida Zeinab area. An explosive device detonated inside Mansour’s car near the Fatimiyah area, killing him shortly after the attack.
The shrine administration condemned the killing as “a despicable crime against humanity and religious values.” The Syrian Interior Ministry said the attack formed part of “systematic attempts aimed at destabilizing security and stability” and pledged to pursue those responsible.
Eastern Syria Sees Renewed Militancy
ISIS also claimed responsibility this week for an ambush targeting a Syrian army bus in western Hasakah province. According to the group’s Amaq news agency, militants opened fire with heavy machine guns on a bus carrying Syrian soldiers near the town of Aliya, killing and wounding several troops.
Syrian state media reported that two soldiers died in the attack and several others suffered injuries. Security forces later launched search operations around the attack site. The ambush marked the first ISIS operation against Syrian government forces resulting in fatalities since February, according to reports carried by regional media outlets.
The attack follows several recent operations claimed by ISIS in Deir Ezzor, Raqqa and Aleppo provinces. In April, the group said it killed a Syrian army member in the town of Rai in northern Aleppo countryside, although local sources later disputed the victim’s military affiliation. ISIS has also claimed attacks targeting members of Syria’s Interior Ministry and oil facility guards in eastern Syria.
Shift Toward Cell-Based Operations
Researchers say ISIS has adapted its strategy since losing its final territorial stronghold in Baghouz in 2019. Instead of attempting to hold territory, the group now relies on mobile cells that conduct ambushes, assassinations and hit-and-run attacks.
The Syrian desert and eastern provinces continue to offer favorable terrain for militant activity because of vast open areas and ongoing security gaps. Analysts say the organization has exploited those conditions to sustain operations despite pressure from Syrian security forces and international coalition efforts.
The resurgence of attacks comes as Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa attempts to consolidate state authority following the 2024 collapse of the Assad regime. Security officials warned attacks targeting religious figures and military personnel could inflame tensions and undermine efforts to stabilize the country after years of conflict.
While ISIS no longer controls territory in Syria, the recent attacks indicate the group’s ability to carry out coordinated operations across multiple provinces. Syrian authorities continue to investigate the incidents and expand security deployments in affected areas.
